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Sea Change Reducing and removing ‘ghost’ fishing gear from the world’s oceans

Common Language Group 10th March 2015

World Animal Protection

• We move the world to protect animals • We have an animal welfare focus • We were formally the World Society for the

Protection of Animals (WSPA) • We have 16 offices worldwide • We have over 100,000 supporters in the UK

alone • We work on a range of farm animal,

companion animal, and wild animal issues. • We also protect animals in disasters

A Global Problem • Some 640,000 tonnes of fishing

gear abandoned, lost or discarded in our oceans every year

• Travels great distances and lasts

for up to 600 years • Kills at least 136,000 seals, sea

lions and large whales each year – millions of animals are impacted when you include sea birds and fish

• Costs governments and seafood

industries millions of dollars in lost revenue

• Significant threat to human life,

property and economy

Industry concerns

Consumer concerns

© Michael Pitts / naturepl.com 11%

0%

3%

13%

38%

34%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Don't know

Strongly disagree

Tend to disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Tend to agree

Strongly agree

Base: All GB adults (2128)

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "The amount of ghost gear that enters the world's seas and oceans never to be recovered is cause for concern"

Consumer concerns Please imagine a brand/ retailer had made a commitment to only sell fish/ seafood products from fishing sources that don't contribute to the amount of ghost gear entering the world's seas and oceans... Would this make you more or less likely to buy fish/ seafood products from this brand/ retailer, or would it make no difference?

12%

1%

2%

29%

32%

24%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Don't know

Much less likely

A little less likely

No difference

A little more likely

Much more likely

Base: All GB adults (2128)

Political concern is growing

• UNEP’s Global Partnership on Marine Litter

• FAO - Committee on Fisheries

• OSPAR • MSFD

Sea Change

• Bring together partners to reduce the amount of ghost gear entering the seas

• Support new ways to remove ghost gear

• Help to replicate successful local sea animal rescue efforts on a global scale

www worldanimalprotection org uk/seac

Ghost gear in the UK Research headlines - Cornish waters have the highest

known seal entanglement rate in the world

- 27% of all recorded cetacean strandings in Cornwall have shown evidence of entanglement

- 13,000 litres of ghost gear found in 3 months’ surveying in Cornwall

- Not all ghost gear is locally generated - Hotspots around the Western Isles

and off Islay - Minke whales are the most at-risk

cetacean in Scotland - Materials most commonly found

entangling animals are monofilament & trawl net Full report due June 2015

Consulting fishermen

• Fishermen survey • Focus groups • Directly through

supply chains • Via fishermens’

organisations • Fishing News • Other suggestions?

Solution projects

The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI)

• First and only initiative of it’s kind

• Global • Cross-sectoral • Solution catalyst • Fishers, retailers,

academics, governments, IGOs, NGOs

GGGI Mission

To ensure safer, cleaner oceans by driving economically viable and sustainable solutions to the problem of ghost fishing gear globally

Strategic approaches

The GGGI will work globally and locally to:

1. Build evidence 2. Collaborate with the private sector 3. Catalyse and replicate solutions 4. Create public awareness and

engagement

Why join the GGGI?

• Enhance your reputation • Be an industry leader • Shape the policy • Inform your sourcing

decisions • Be part of solutions

Thank you

Alyx Elliott Campaigns Manager

World Animal Protection UK Email: alyxelliott@worldanimalprotection.org.uk

www.worldanimalprotection.org.uk/seachange